Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes regulations for public transportation authorities in Pennsylvania and appropriates or transfers funds from the interactive gaming tax account.

Highlights:

• Appropriates the following amounts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year from the restricted receipt account related to the interactive gaming tax (Sec. 1):

• $87.5 million to the Public Transportation Trust Fund; and

• $87.5 million to the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes account in the Motor License Fund.

• Appropriates the following amounts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter from the restricted receipt account related to the interactive gaming tax (Sec. 1):

• $43 million to the Public Transportation Trust Fund; and

• $43 million to the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes account in the Motor License Fund.

• Defines “metropolitan transportation authority” as a transit authority that serves all of the territory within the boundaries of a county of the first class and all other counties within 20 miles of that first class county (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Secretary of the Budget to transfer $162 million to the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes Account in the Motor License Fund within 30 days of the effective date of this paragraph (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Secretary of the Budget to transfer an additional $257 million to the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes Account by July 31, 2026 (Sec. 3).

• Requires local transportation organizations to increase fares by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers by January 1, 2024, again by July 1, 2027, and every second year thereafter (Sec. 4).

• Requires annual performance evaluation of reward recipients that serve a population of 600,000 people or more to determine effectiveness of funding and compliance with performance criteria (Sec. 5).

• Establishes the offense of operating a controlled substance injection site within 2,500 feet of infrastructure of a local transportation organization (Sec. 5).

• Classifies a violation of the previously described offense as a felony with a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, or both (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that if the offender of the previously described offense is not an individual, the fine may be up to $2 million (Sec. 5).

• Establishes the Special Prosecutor for Mass Transit which is appointed by the Attorney General to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for violations of state law that occur within a public transportation authority (Sec. 6).

• Requires metropolitan transportation authorities to submit at least one transportation project involving at least one facility to the board for consideration within 90 days of the effective date of this Section (Sec. 7).

• Requires metropolitan transportation authorities to explore at least one transportation project annually beginning in 2027 (Sec. 7).

• Requires a minor with a driving learner’s permit who is applying for examination for a regular or junior driver’s license to view educational materials on unsafe driving in a work zone (Sec. 9).

• Requires the driver’s examination on traffic laws to contain at least one question regarding how to drive safely in a work zone, and the driver’s manual to include a section on that subject (Sec. 11).

• Authorizes public transportation vehicles to carry illuminated signs portraying information or advertisement to the public, including public service announcements and emergency alerts, in a position that is not distracting to the driver of the public transportation vehicle or any other vehicle on the road (Sec. 13).

• Establishes a restricted account within the Motor License Fund to be known as the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes Account (Sec. 14).

• Specifies that money deposited into the Motor License Fund under the interactive gaming tax will be deposited into the restricted account for transportation projects, not including (Sec. 14):

• Preservation strategies commonly referred to as oil and chip or sealcoat;

• Patching and sealing;

• Bridge maintenance; or

• Any construction, reconstruction, or maintenance work performed by the county maintenance districts.

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately unless otherwise noted (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text